法華玄論 3.46

3.46

Answer: This was already explained earlier, and will now be elaborated. Prajñā merely clarifies that bodhisattvas are causes for buddhahood and therefore attain buddhahood, while the two vehicles are not causes for buddhahood and therefore do not attain buddhahood. This meaning was easy to understand in former times, and is therefore called exoteric. The Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra clarifies that the two vehicles attain buddhahood, which contradicts the former teaching and was difficult to understand in former times, and is therefore called esoteric. The treatise master says: 'Just as using medicine as medicine is an easy matter, using poison as medicine is a difficult matter.' Prajñā clarifying that bodhisattvas attain buddhahood is like using medicine as medicine; not clarifying that the two vehicles attain buddhahood is like not using poison as medicine. The Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra clarifying that the two vehicles attain buddhahood is like using poison as medicine. Its meaning is thus difficult to understand; hence it is esoteric.